Motor Guide vs Minn Kota

I have to place my summer order by tuesday. My supplier is out of 55 # thrust 36in. shaft maxxums. I can get a 40#, 36in maxxum or a 55# 36 Motor Guide for about the same price.
This is a tiller mount for a 16 aluminum with a 25 horse Merc. Can the Motor Guide compare to the Maxxums battery life? Do I need 55# of thrust?

Depends on what you fish.If you fish the river maybe you would need one that big. If it’s lakes most of the time then i wouldnt think so. With a 16ft boat your not pushing that much weight. I have a 65-24volt on a 20ft glass that does fine on the river. This is just my opion but i wont have a motor guide

I had a motor guide and never will again. I agree with Dan, it’ll depend on the water you fish. You don’t want to be underpowered.

gunflint I have a 16′ mod V with a 25 merc and I bought a motor guide transom mount when I first got it. I had it for a year and it was junk. Took it back and traded it for a Minn kota 50# endura and have not had one problem with it. I would go with the bigger motor you’ll be happy the power is there if you need it espesialy on the river. By the way a buddy of mine had a motor guide and he called the company to complain and they told him that they consider anything they make under $400 to be a throw away motor and would not help him out. My vote is for the Minn Kota even if you have to pay a little more for it. Good luck

Always had Minn Kota on the four previous boats and on the new one I bought in 2003 it had a Motor Guide on it. Can’t wait for it to blow up so I can replace it with a Minn Kota . Besides being a piece of junk I can only fish the current about half the time I could with a Minn Kota. Thats just my opionion.

I have three motor guide motors. One on the bow and two transom mounts.

Not one of these motors ever gave me one bit of trouble. The two transom mounts are 9 years old and 15 years old…….They run like they did the day I bought them……..

I’m not sponsored by anyone, so it is just my opinion, but I have ZERO complaints with motorguide……..

you need to hear the good with the bad. I own a motorguide and know others that do also. I’ve always been curious/worried with everyone saying its going to burn up. No problems with the 5 of them though.

I’ve never heard of them “burning up” before….

What is actually burning up??? Why are they “burning up”???

The problem with the last M.G. I will own was every time I smacked something hard(usually at full speed) and broke the bracket it would also ruin a circuit card in the head . It would take another 100$ plus to replace that. After doing that 2x I had enough. I wont be fooled a third time

WOW!!!

I must have a lucky three motors………Mine have been pounded into rocks, have scars and scuffs all over them and they run as good today, as they did when I got them.

The only draw back I have with Motorguide (actually in all cable driven motors) is that you have to have the foot on the pedal for power.

I would like to upgrade to a Minnkota Auto Pilot. However, untill the compasses get corrected by them, they won’t get my business. 90% of the people I know with the AP Minnkotas, the AP don’t work…….Also, I’ve seen too many Power Drive foot pedals go on the blitz.

So, with that said, I’m sticking with a cable drive……..

I’ve had a MG for about 3 years now and haven’t had any trouble with it. The new Gator bracket helps wth easing the pressure that is applied to the shaft when you do hit something.
I agree with what everyone says about the power. Get the highest thrust you can afford. You can always turn down the power but you can never add more if you need it.